Bounties in American football

Whackery and hackery

SO APPARENTLY the New Orleans Saints defence had a bounty programme in place, organised by Gregg Williams, their defensive coordinator, as well as leading defensive players. It paid players $1,500 for knocking a player out of a game, and $1,000 for a “cart-off” (hitting a player hard enough that he had to be helped off the field). Players often returned their bonuses, thus boosting the pot. Bounties increased during important games: in the 2009 playoffs, Jonathan Vilma reportedly added $10,000 of his money to a bounty on Brett Favre, who was then the quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. Mr Favre suffered an ankle sprain in that game; he left but returned, hobbled, leading to a Saints win. Mr Williams seems to have run similar programs in previous coaching posts in Buffalo and Washington.

The NFL's punishment will likely be severe, as it should be. The programme contravenes league rules in two ways: first, by offering off-the-books compensation; second, and more importantly, by violating league bylaws and the collective-bargaining agreement between players and the league, which explicitly state that “No bonuses or awards may be offered or paid for on-field misconduct (for example, personal fouls to, or injuries inflicted on, opposing players).” Mr Williams will probably never coach again. Sean Payton, the Saints' head coach, pleaded ignorance, but that is hardly credible. Mr Payton is a notoriously controlling, micromanaging coach, and it is highly unlikely that a programme this overt and blatant took place without his knowledge.

But this scheme, like so many sports scandals, has inspired waves of hypocritical, ammonia-sniffing outrage. Journalists and fans who claim to be shocked, shocked that such a programme could ever exist echo similar figures who also got the vapours when it was revealed that baseball players used steroids. Steve Coll of the New Yorkerwrites that it “sounds on its face like a racketeering conspiracy to commit felony assault and battery in order to advance a shared business interest.” Well, sure, but Mr Coll is describing football itself. If Terrell Suggs or Troy Polamalu hit the guy sitting next to them in a bar the way they hit opposing players, it would indeed by felony assault and battery. An effective defender should commit felony assault and battery every Sunday during football season.

As Buzz Bissinger writes, that is why we watch. The NFL ought to punish the Mr Williams and the Saints because their programme violated an explicit directive of the NFL, agreed to by the players. But the hand-wringing and outrage is misplaced. It is telling that not a single NFL player has expressed even mild surprise at the news. Business as usual, most seem to think. Even Mr Favre, after the playoff game in which a Saints player profitably injured him, simply said, “it's football...If [opposing players] can drill you and get you [out of the game], they will.” That is true with or without bounty bonuses, with or without the NFL's increased concern over long-term player health, and with or without the league threatening extra punishment. If you don't like it, don't watch. But if you're going to watch football you need to make your peace with it. It's a violent game, and violence has consequences.

This comment is right-on. Rewards systems, even if non-monetary, are a common part of the high school and college game. Players may track numbers of tackles on a board or even put stickers on their helmets. It's hardly surprising similar things go on in the pros.

Great article! I think it keeps things in perspective; however, I think Gregg Williams and Sean Payton will weather this storm. A reward system for hard hits and injuries has been in place since high school. To prove this under-ground bounty will be as easy as finding Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq.

The team's focus needs to be on keeping Drew Brees happy. As a huge Saint's fan, that is my only concern. If you are worried about people getting intentionally hurt in sports, I suggest you leave your TV on the Golf channel.

It is great when a newspaper like The Economist writes about issues such as sports. I truly mean that.
Unfortunately, I believe there is a mistake in the article. As of Thursday (8th of March) no evidence has surfaced of the "off-the-books compensation" described in the article. To my knowledge the money in the pool was contributed by the players themselves and Williams only acted as treasurer.